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// Tea Time 
// Story: Rarity Gets Cockroaches 
// by EarthbendingProdigy 
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The clock struck two as Rarity put the finishing touches on her latest order. “Magnifique, another job well done!” Rarity exclaimed with pride as she trotted into the kitchen to brew herself a fresh batch of tea for her afternoon tea time.

A time which varied each day depending on what projects she was working on but it was always part of her daily ritual. Much like Twilight Sparkle with her checklists Rarity had tea making down to a science.

Rarity first began by checking her cupboards and deciding on which tea she would brew, each day she had a different feeling for which tea was right for which, time and occasion. Once she made her decision she would slowly put the ingredients into the kettle and carefully watch the kettle as it was boiling over the stove. Some of her friends and her sister Sweetie Belle thought Rarity was a bit obsessive about her tea but as she would often remind them “Good tea must simply not be rushed.”

Like a young foal waiting to open their presents on Hearth's Warming morning Rarity excitedly yet cautiously turned off the stove and used her magic to slowly move the kettle to the kitchen table, she sat down to her daily reward. Today is one of her personal favorites green tea. As Rarity was about to take her first sip she was interrupted by a loud thumping sound which caused her to drop her cup of tea onto the floor.

“Must this happen during tea time?” asked Rarity dejectedly as she prepared to clean up the mess. After cleaning up Rarity heard the same loud thumping sound once more, sensing that her tea kettle was about to fall to the floor she used her magic to levitate is back to the table.
“Losing one cup is bad enough but a whole kettle truly would have been dreadful, who or what in the name of Equestria is making that horrid racket?” Rarity began to wonder as she looked out the window, her eyes gazing at her sister Sweetie Belle and her friends Applebloom and Scootaloo playing outside.

“Today we will earn our cutie marks. Sweetie Belle? we need water stat.” Applebloom proclaimed with authority as Sweetie Belle turned on the hose.
“Cutie Mark Crusaders mud wrestlers yay!!!” the three excited fillies said as they hopped in the mud.
“How uncouth! Of all of the ways Sweetie Belle could try to earn her cutie mark-- but that can’t be what is causing this incessant noise.”

As Rarity continued looking out the window she noticed the house next door which has remained abandoned since she was just a young filly but something was different about it but she couldn’t put her hoof on it until she noticed a large carriage in front of the house loaded with furniture and assorted boxes which was surrounded by four burly earth pony stallions getting ready to carry their next load into the house. Her curious onlooking was cut short though by Sweetie Belle and her friends walking through the front door.

“Sweetie Belle you and your friends need to clean yourselves up before coming in here, you will attract cockroaches.”
“But Rarity…” Sweetie Belle said before she was interrupted
“No but’s young lady it’s bath time for you filthy fillies” Rarity said as she filled a large bucket full of soap and water.

The young fillies reluctantly hopped in despite their objections and given a bath in Rarity’s front yard. While she was giving them in what her opinion was a much needed wash she heard a familiar voice.
“Are ya’ll trying to get yer cutie marks in taking a bath now or did Rarity here strong arm you into it?”
“Applejack!” The three excited fillies yelled as they hopped out of the bucket.
“Applejack what brings you, here?”
“We are supposed to meet your new neighbors today, apparently they came from Manehatten and Pinkie Pie being Pinkie Pie insisted that they get a good welcome.”
“How could I forget? I got so wrapped up in this order that I…”
“Now there is no need to fret I figured that might be the case so I came early to remind you, I will finish up here.”
“Thanks Applejack.” Rarity said as she rushed back into her house to get ready.
“I trust ya’ll behaved for Rarity.” Applejack said as she looked each of them in the eye
“We did honest” Applebloom tried to convince Applejack as she held her hoof behind her back.
“Now Applebloom, you know how I feel about lying.”


“We tried to get our cutie marks in mud wrestling, and after we were done we tried to remind Rarity about the plans to meet the new neighbors but she flipped because we still had a little dried mud on us.” Scootaloo said
“Aw okay, just remember she is a bit of a neat freak and the last thing we all need is her to be gettin’ persnickety.” Applejack laughed “knowing Rarity she may take a while so I got a game for us to play while we are waiting.” Applejack said as she pulled a board game out of her knapsack.

While Rarity was scouring her closet for the perfect outfit Applejack and the three young fillies eagerly played their game not noticing how much time had passed as the others showed up.

“This is ridiculous, what is taking her so long?” Rainbow Dash complained as she paced around impatiently.
“Now Rainbow Dash, Rarity is probably nervous about meeting the new neighbors and probably wants to make a good first impression. If you are bored I have the latest Daring Do book which I am sure will help pass the time.” said Twilight.
“Awesome! Gimme gimme gimme!” Rainbow Dash said greedily as she rushed over to Twilight and grabbed the book. “That drama queen can take all the time she wants I want to see what adventure Daring Do has next.”
But before Rainbow Dash could open the book Rarity stepped out the door dressed in her finest.

“Ta ta I am ready to go.” Rarity said with pride as she sauntered out as if she were a model
“Aw dang it, oh well lets go the sooner we welcome the newbies the sooner I can get back to Daring Do. So let’s go already.” Rainbow Dash waved her hooves impatiently toward the house next door.